Defensive specialist Heldman dives into USI volleyball team's defense

EVANSVILLE - Unless she's diving headlong across the floor to keep a spike from landing inbounds, Kayla Heldman doesn't have the sexiest job on the volleyball court.

But she doesn't mind. She knows that preventing a kill is just as important as getting a kill.

"The (hits) no one thinks you're going to get to are the most fun," she admitted. "But it's more about the digs you're supposed to get, helping your teammates."

It's about this 5-foot-7 senior defensive specialist from Greenwood, Ind., not letting anything get past her.

"I think it's more of a mindset where you're telling yourself the ball is not going to hit the floor," said Heldman. "We call it ‘scrap-dog defense.' "

That defense will be a key component for the Screaming Eagles again this year when they open their season Sept. 6 against Albany State University in the Hemingway's Invitational at the University of West Florida in Pensacola.

Heldman is one of nine letter winners returning for USI, which posted a 16-16 overall record last year. The team finished 12-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference but lost in the first round of the GLVC Tournament.

Heldman is the only Eagles player close to setting a school record. She needs 233 digs to break Amanda Probst's career mark of 1,490, set from 2003-06. Considering that Heldman totaled 485 digs last fall — shattering the single-season record of 275 set by Probst in 2004 — she should surpass the career standard well before the end of this season.

"She's probably the fastest little thing I've coached," said Leah Mercer, who's entering her ninth season as USI's head coach. "She's what you want in the libero spot."

She said Heldman should be even better this season after spending the summer lifting weights and working with assistant coach Kathleen Yony.

Heldman's job is all about anticipation.

"You watch for the (opponent's) setter to set, you read the arms (of the opposing hitters) and you play off your blockers' shoulders," she said.

It helped that she and her teammates stayed together after the season ended, playing exhibition matches and working out from January to April.

It's a squad that returns, in addition to Heldman, its top three hitters: juniors Lauren DeShaney (322 kills) and Fawn Ryan (251 kills) and sophomore Abbey Winter (209 kills, team-high 114 blocks). Also back is sophomore Erica Oberbroeckling (134 kills) as well as senior setter Jorae Bradbury (899 assists).

Mercer said Ryan has returned to her more normal position of outside hitter, that Winter has added "lots of muscle weight" and Bradbury will be in her fourth year as USI's setter.

One missing piece is senior middle blocker Emily Diedrich. She totaled 170 kills and 53 blocks in 2012 before being sidelined with a season-ending shoulder injury. Mercer and Diedrich both declined to discuss why she is no longer with the team.

Mercer and Heldman like the potential of this year's squad.

"We were picked to finish fourth in the (GLVC) East, and I think that's a little bit under," said the coach.

"We have most of our starting lineup back — the team we played with most of the spring season," said Heldman. "I'm really looking forward to it."